I spent my childhood around horses.

Having been born and raised in Arizona, they were always part of the landscape. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother riding me to kindergarten on horseback. Once the school day was over, my mom would be waiting by the school yard gently holding our horse Bucky’s bridle in her hand. Bucky would stand by her side, with the stance and patience of a sentinel, ready to be my personal chauffeur.

He was chestnut brown with a white streak that ran the length of his nose. He was strong but sweet, spirited but mellow. I would ride the front part of the saddle, grasping the horn as my mom wrapped me in her arms while gripping the reins. Bucky would guide us down the well-trodden dirt road toward home, a muffled “clip-clop” sounding from his hooves as he took each step.

I treasured those rides.

In the middle of my first grade year, we moved to the city. Our horses were entrusted in the care of a family friend, but my fascination with their majestic beauty continued to captivate me—their power, their strength and the sagacious wisdom that gleams in their eyes.

There’s a trust there, between the rider and the horse. My mom used to say Bucky would calm as soon as I was in the saddle with her. It was as if he knew there was precious cargo aboard. He would sense the addition of my meager 30-pound body and take greater care in each of his steps.

As a child I honored this connection and have always held a special place in my heart for these magnificent creatures.

To see these amazing animals in the wild, running with their herd, guiding their young, is a vision of freedom in action. Much of the landscape of the West has been centered around these wild horses—a symbol of independence and liberty.

I was disheartened when I heard about the possible mismanagement of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program. While I do understand the need to protect ecological resources, the extent of the wild horse roundups and the practices used are upsetting. (Note: some of the images in the following video are disturbing).

The imbalance is due to cattle and livestock growers asserting their need for grazing areas. Without the cheap grazing land available on federal lands, livestock producers claim they would lose their businesses.

Currently, over 50,000 wild horses are housed in captivity at taxpayer expense with just 32,000 remaining free on the range.

I understand the need for some population control in order to prevent ecological devastation and the starvation of wild horses and livestock, but why is it the BLM has taken the approach of captor rather than steward? Isn’t their purpose to protect the wild horses and preserve their future?

With adoption efforts failing to find homes for the displaced horses and tens of thousands of wild horses living in captivity, it’s clear a new direction is necessary. Well-planned birth control efforts would help with population control while more equal allocation of land resources would help keep wild horses in their natural environment.

I can’t help but think financially powerful cattleman and livestock lobbying groups have their hand in encouraging these BLM practices. It’s also clear that our hunger for beef has created an unnecessary battle for land. Our society’s incessant demand for meat has far-reaching effects, we can’t simply blame the government bureaucracy and cattle growers.

I hope we can one day reach a point where money doesn’t always have the first say. I hope our society can one day let go of its “I want what I want” attitude and choose to be change instead.

I hope that day comes soon, otherwise we risk losing an American treasure.

About Amy Cushing

Amy Cushing is a stay-at-home mom and E-RYT® 200 certified yoga teacher pursuing her passion for writing. When she’s not chasing around two small tots, she can be found lost in a good book, cherishing quality time with her husband or having a much-needed laugh with her girlfriends. She’s on a mission to find simplicity in life so she can spend less time pulling out her hair and more time appreciating those who matter most. She loves yoga and music and has been known to bust out a mean rendition of Itsy Bitsy Spider in times of chaos. She holds a B.S. in Political Science and an M.A. in English from Northern Arizona University. Connect with Amy on Facebook or Twitter.

Interesting…I was always under the impression that as a cattle farmer, you had to own your own land… "cattle and livestock growers asserting their need for grazing areas." It is not like a vegetable farmer could simply use federal land to grow their vegetables (especially without compensation.) I know camps that have to pay for the use of the land in which their camp is housed because it is on national or federal land. Wild horses, in my opinion have every right to be there…that is where they were born and that is where they should remain. Makes me think of that movie that came out a few years back….so very sad.

Ranchers and livestock growers lease the rights to have the animals graze on public and federal lands. The program is designed to help ranchers economically, but it becomes a problem when it infringes on the rights of other animals who also share the land. There's also containment of wolves and coyotes because of the risk they pose to livestock. I understand ranchers lose money when they lose livestock, but at what point do we (humans) become the problem and not the wild creatures? Instead of finding ways to live in harmony with these animals, those who benefit choose the knee jerk reaction of containment, often with dire consequences. There has to be a better way.

Big Money and BIG AG which includes Cattleman's Ass, Farm Bureau, have just taken over and what they want they get, just like some of the new AG-GAG laws they are getting into law, just unbelievable that honestly our GOV. condones this better than thou mentality…. OUR horses are suffering because of what I just mentioned, and I for one am so sick of BLM'S lie's, the destruction they are doing to all the Wild Horses & Burros is just unexceptable it has gone on long enough, I personally think the birth control should of been done years ago, do it NOW let them go to the land that is THEIRS not the CATTLE…. Do what is right set this right……….

Excellent post! Yea man, I'm willing to ride a wild horse back. Anyways, I'm sharing on horse riding. Start with barn chores at a quality stable first, if there is one nearby, to become familiar with horses and to get used to being around them. Many stables are happy to have a volunteer. In return they might let you ride their horses, and you will become acquainted with the horses, their temperaments, and body language. Cheers~ Wayne Williams